Baby's First Cow's Milk: 4 Tips for Making the Transition

Baby's First Cow's Milk: 4 Tips for Making the Transition

From formula fans to "breast is best" proponents, the majority of moms eventually introduce their children to cow's milk. To help make your bub's transition smooth and safe, we've gathered Circle of Moms members' top tips on incorporating cow's milk into a baby's diet—from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations on age and type of milk, to advice about allergy symptoms, to tricks for babies who refuse cow's milk. Drink up!

1. When to Start...and What to Buy

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies over 12 months old with a healthy diet can receive up to 32 oz. per day of whole cow's milk. The AAP recommends full fat milk instead of low-fat (1%) or nonfat/skim milk until the age of 2.

When exactly beyond the one-year mark you actually start your baby on cow's milk is a personal choice to make with the help of your pediatrician. Some Circle of Moms members, like Virginian mother Jennifer B., introduce cow's milk as early as possible: "I started my son on whole milk…on his first birthday. He loved it and thankfully it was an easy transition." Others wait several more months, or even longer into the child's second year if they've decided to breastfeed.

2. Start Cow's Milk Gradually

You've heard of "baby steps" - in this case, it's "baby sips." Introducing milk gradually to a child who's used to breast milk or formula can help her tummy and taste buds become accustomed to the new beverage. "Introduce it slowly," advises Callie R., a mom in Kansas. "Try replacing one cup of formula with a cup of milk. Or cut it half and half. Just remember that any sudden drastic change (all formula to all milk) in a kid's diet can cause an upset tummy." Jodi A., a mother of four, agreed, also noting that the gradual introduction "helps them adjust to the difference in taste and texture."

3. What To Do If Your Baby Refuses Cow's Milk

Uh oh...the milk's fresh but your baby's face is decidedly sour! If your baby doesn't initially like cow's milk, try these tips from Circle of Mom members for making the milk more palatable or interesting: Kayla O., a mom in Wisconsin, found warming the milk was the trick for her son: "I had to put the milk in the microwave for 30 seconds then give it to him. It always helped." Making the cow's milk taste more similar to the formula or breast milk can also help, as Rebekah F., a mother of one in Washington, shared: "I had a friend who used sugar-free syrups to sweeten it (breastmilk being sweeter than cow's) and then tapered it off slowly." Other moms suggested using straws and different kinds of sippy cups to make drinking the milk more fun.

I love the idea of introducing milk in "baby sips." If only I had known about that trick (which I referenced in a hint today) when I introduced milk to my tot. http://hintmama.com/2014/01/09/todays-hint-how-to-switch-to-milk-from-breast-milk-and-formula/

hi,cows milk should NEVER be used for human consumption.the American dairy association and Monsanto corps own research ( obtained through the" freedom of information act " shows that it is the top cause of type i diabetes,... it contains a protein like substance that damages the human immune system......and it is full of millions of nasty puss-pockets,and may contain genetically created bovine hormones,and ,or,pesticides.....infants only need human milk as they are humans,not cattle....when a mom cannot nurse,then there are formulas that are good..... that do not contain cow milk.

@Emma Wrigley......the country (and world actually) have long used cow's milk as a source of nutrtion beyond infancy. Yes, cow'smilk was "designed" for cows" but ti dismiss an article on how to make an effective transition to milk (which the vast majority of us WILL make) is disrespectful. Be a vegan (or vegetarian) if that's your choice. Kudos. However....DO NOT dismiss the choices of others as "ridiculous" because YOU don't agree.